Top 5 Baltimore Orioles Trade Deadline Candidates, Ranked

4 and 3. Paul Fry/Tanner Scott

As reported in Dan Connolly’s trade talks update on Monday (subscription required), the Orioles players receiving the most attention on the trade market are Paul Fry and Tanner Scott. Both of these left-handed relievers have been effective out of the Baltimore bullpen this season and have team-friendly contracts that would allow a potential trade partner to stay below the $210,000,000 luxury tax threshold.

This season, Fry holds an ERA of 3.49 and a WHIP of 1.164 in 39 appearances. As for Scott, the season-long ERA sits at 3.07 while his WHIP floats at 1.366 over his 46 appearances. Both pitchers would be welcome pieces to a contending bullpen needing reinforcements to make it over the hump this postseason.

2. Cedric Mullins

The Orioles’ lone All-Star, Cedric Mullins would seemingly garner the most interest of any player on the roster based on the level of play he’s put on record this season. With the 26-year-old outfielder under contract until 2026, Baltimore wouldn’t move Mullins for anything less than a monster haul of prospects. However, his performance this year has made its mark nationally and has put Mullins on the radar of teams across the league.

Since abandoning switch-hitting and taking his at-bats strictly from the left side to begin the season, Mullins is slashing a torrid .319/.382/.546 with 17 home runs and 17 stolen bases. The only Orioles player close to matching the contributions of Mullins this season falls in as the team’s number one trade deadline candidate.

1. Trey Mancini

The heart and soul of Baltimore have become forever attached to the fight of the city’s star first baseman, Trey Mancini. Although it seems unlikely that the Orioles would trade such an important clubhouse presence as Mancini, it makes sense that GM Mike Elias would explore the option from a baseball operations standpoint.

Currently, the highest-paid player on the Orioles’ payroll, the 29-year-old Mancini is under contract until 2023, meaning he is near the peak of his contractual value where a non-competitive team would be looking to capitalize. Mancini is slashing .265/.336/.483 this season with a team-best 19 home runs.

It would be an impossible move to get the fanbase behind if the Orioles were to trade Mancini. However, it may be one that helps bolster the franchise’s future.